Sewing-machine



P. MAXWELL-MULLER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1920.

Patented Jan. A1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

am E

P. MAXWELL-MULLER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5| I920 1,364,571 Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Jgd? mul UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY MAXWELL-MULLER, 0F WEYBRIDG-E, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VICKERS LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON', ENGLAND.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Application led March 5, 1920. Serial No. 363,598.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BERCY MAXWELL- MULLER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at lVeybridge, in the county of Surrey, "England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lockstitch sewing machines and has for its chief object to provide an improved construction of machine for sewing together plies or veneers of wood for use in connection with aircraft, boats, carriages and other structures where multiple-ply wood panels or strips are employed in their constructions.

According to this invention, the improved loclstitch sewing machine comprises several separately actuated needles in conjunction with separately actuated bobbins7 or spools corresponding in number to the number of needles employed and coperating therewith for enabling several rows of lockstitches to be produced. Each needle actuating mechanism may comprise an eccentric suitably connected to the needle and the several eccentrics may be mounted on a common driving shaft. Each bobbin or spool may have its own actuating mechanism and a common driving shaft may be connected to each mechanism. The lower part of the machine constitutes a`bed or table in which the aforesaid bobbin or spools are mounted in close proximity to the needles which are independently mounted in an upper part or cross bar extending above the bed or table of the machine, the arrangement and corespective needle being similar to the arrangement and coperation of the bobbin or spool and needle in an ordinary single needle sewing machine. The plies or strips of wood to be sewn together are moved over the bed or table of the machine under the aforesaid cross bar by suitable mechanism which can be adjusted or set to effect the movement of the plies or strips in the forward or the reverse direction. Suitable thread tensioning means may be associated with each needle and various other parts which are usually provided in sewing machines may be employed and multiplied according to the numberY of needles and bobbins employed.

in order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures l and 2 are respectively a front and rear elevation of one construction of the improved multiple needle lockstitch sewing machine.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one end of the machine showing more particularly the mechanism for moving the plies or strips through the machine; Fig. 3fL is a detail view showing the same mechanism adjusted to eflect the reverse movement.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the other end of the machine showing more particularly the mechanism for driving the shaft which actuates the mechanism for imparting movement to the bobbins or spools.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken l on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 4 illustrating a modification hereinafter referred to.

A represents the bed or table of the machine supported at its ends by standards A A. B represents the horizontal transverse bar mounted above the table A in end supports B, B secured to the standards A A. The bar B is of channel or girder section (see Fig. 5)v the lower flange of which is perforated at various points along its length to receive the needles C (eight being shown in the example illustrated) which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to rods C passing through holes in the upper flange of the girder bar B: The rods C are se- :5f/cured to straps C2 surrounding eccentrics C3, operation of each bobbin or spool with its secured on a transverse rotary shaft C* which is mounted at its ends in the supports B and which is supported at several points along its length in bearings or supports C on the upper part of the bar B. One end of the shaft C4 carries a belt-driven pulley C6 by means of which rotation is imparted to the shaft C4 and to the eccentrics C3 thereon which latter impart reciprocation to the needles C through the straps C2 and the rods C. At the rear of the transverse bar B are mounted in suitable supports presser-feet D (see Figs. 2 and 5) one for each needle and situated adjacent thereto in the usual manner, the presser-feet D being maintained normally in a raised position by means of springs D which retain the upper ends of the presser feet D against cams D2 on an endwise movable rod D5 disposed between rollers DG as shown in Fig. 2.

The rod D'5 is adapted to be moved in endwise directions to set the presser feet in the operative or inoperative positions by means of a plate D1 having a cam of suitable profile which is adapted to rock a centrally pivoted lever to effect the required endwise movement of the cam rod D5, thereby holding the presser feet firmly against the worlr during t-he stitching part of the needle stroke. A small adjustable roller on the upper end of the lever D5 is in Contact with the cam plate D4, the roller being adjustable to alter the throw of the lever D5 in one direction so as to adjust the presser feet to suit different thicknesses of plies. Each needle has its own supply of cotton which is supplied from a reel if) around a tension disk E through the take-up lever E1 and then around a tension disk E3 to the needle as shown at the end needle on the rightV hand side of the machine in Fig. l. The take-up levers F2 are simultaneously operated by grooved cams E4 on the rotary shaft C, Loopers and shuttles F (see Fig. 5) of any usual type and supported in the table A adjacent to the needles may be suitably mounted to receive a semi-rotary or oscillatory movement for which purpose each looper or shuttle has a connection including a gear wheel F (see Figs. 2 and 5) and a gear wheel F in mesh with a gear wheel F2 on a rocking shaft F3, one end of which has a pinion F4 (see Figs. l, 2 and 4) in1 mesh with a gear wheel F5 having an eccentric or crank pin F5 which is connected through a rod F and strap F8 to an eccentric F9 receiving its rotation from the main driving shaft C4. The arrangement is such that the eccentric F9 in rotating imparts a semi-rotary or oscillatory movement to the gear wheel F5 which transmits this movement to the shaft F5 and thus to the bobbins or spools B. The coperation of each needle and its respective bobbin orf,

1movement to the rollers G and GX in the spool to produce the lockstitch may be effected in any well known manner. Any appropriate or usual bobbin or spool mechanism may be employed, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, rotary loopers or shuttles may be used, the actuating shaft of which is driven by chain gearing F10 from the main shaft C4. The mechanism for moving the wood plies longitudinally in order that they may be sewn together comprises in the example shown two sets of positively driven rollers G and GX on transverse shafts G and GX disposed at the front and rear of the machine respectively and two sets of upper rollers H and. HX carried by short arms H2 H2x secured to transverse shafts H HX so as to be disposed above the rollers G Gx and to bear on the Wood strips While supported on and moved along by the positively driven lower rollers G GX. rllhe shafts G and GX are operatively connected together by a chain G2 passing around sprocket wheels G3 G3x at one end of the said shafts, the shaft G also carrying a gear or ratchet wheel G* adapted to be rotated to impart rotation to the shafts G GX by a pawl G5 or a pawl G5 according to the direction of movement required; the pawls G5 and GG are pivotally mounted on two rocking levers G7 which levers are pivoted at their inner ends on the shaft G', the ends of which lever are connected by links G8 to one end of a centrally pivoted lever G9 whose other end lits in a cam groove in a plate G10 secured on and rotatable with the main driving shaft C1. By imeans of this arrangement the levers G7 can be oscillated to cause say the pawl G5 to intermittently rotate the ratchet or gearwheel G4 and thus impart rotation to the shaft G and the rollers G thereon, the rotation of which shaft is imparted to the shaft GX and the rollers GX thereon through the chain drive G2 in order to effect the forward movement of the wood plies to be sewn. After a length of the wood plies has been fed through the machine and sewn together, the sewn plies may be moved laterally and then moved in the reverse direction to enable another row of stitches to be made; in order to drive the shafts G and GX and the rollers G GX thereon n the opposite or reverse direction the pawl G5 is provided with a hand lever G11 connected to the shaft G by a spring G12 and the two pawls are pivotally connected at their lower ends by a link G13 so that by angularly moving the lever G11 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 35 the pawls can be moved to the positions shown to enable the pawl G5 to assume an inoperative position and the pawl G6 an operative position whereupon the oscillation of the levers G7 will cause the pawl G6 to rotate the ratchet or gear wheel G5 and therefore the shaft G in the reverse direction thus imparting required direction. The spring G12 retains the lever G11 and the pawls G5 and G6 in either of the positions to which they can be set.

The upper rollers H and Hx which as aforesaid are carried by short arms H2 H2X secured to the transverse shafts H and Hc are normally maintained in a position to bear on the rollers G GX by springs H5 connected to the upper ends of levers H4 H1* secured to the shafts H and HX at the two ends of the machine, see Figs. l, 2 and 3. The levers H4 and I 4X are also connected by links H5 H5X t0 a lever H5 having a handle H7 which can be depressed to lower the lever H5 and cause the links H5 H5X to move the levers H4 H4* outwardly against the action y width of plies up to the limit determined by l the distance between the supports B B can be passed through the machine. If narrow plies be employed so that all the needles would not be required to effect the stitching,

' those needles not required would not be threaded and the corresponding bobbins or spools would be removed.

7hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is r- 1. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side supports, a bed plate extending between and connected to said supports, loopers disposed under said bed plate, a vertical bar extending between and connected to said supports above the bed plate, a plurality of needles on one side of said vertical bar with cotton supplying means for said needles carried on said bar, presser feet associated with said needles and disposed on the other side of the bar, a main operating shaft disposed above said bar and a longitudinally movable rod cooperating with the presser feet and actuated by mechanism connected to said main operating shaft.

2. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side supports, a bed plate connected to same, loopers under said bed plate, needles cooperating with the loopers disposed above said bed plate, a main shaft for operating said needles, a common shaft actuating said loopers, mechanism at one end of the said main shaft which operates said common shaft, and mechanism at the other end of said main shaft for operating feed rollers which move the wood plies over said bed plate.

3. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising side supports, a bed plate extending between said supports, a vertical bar above said bed plate, needles with cotton supplying means on one side of said bar, presser feet on the other side of said bar, an operating shaft above the needles and connected thereto by eccentrics, a longitudinally movable rod having cams for engaging with said presser feet against the action of springs around said presser feet and a connection between said operating shaft and rod converting the rotary movement of the shaft into reciprocating motion for longitudinally moving said rod.

4. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies, comprising two side supports, a bed plate between same, a plurality of loopers under said bed plate and coperating with a plurality of needles supported in a frame extending between and connected to said side supports, a common operating shaft for said loopers, a main driving shaft connected by eccentrics to said needles, driving means operatively connecting the looper operating shaft and the needle operating shaft, spring controlled presser feet carried by said frame and means operated by said driving shaft for enabling the presser feet to be raised or lowered.

5. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side supports connected by a bed plate and a vertical bar, loopers` under said bed plate and needles carried by .said bar, a main driving shaft for actuating the needles and operativelyconnected to a shaft driving said loopers, feed rollers at the front and rear of said bed plate and means connected to said main driving shaft for operating the rollers in reverse directions for causing the wood plies to travel in either direction across said bed plate.

6. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side supports connected by abed plate and a verticall bar, loopers under said bed plate and needles carried by said bar, a main driving shaft for actuating the needles operatively connected to a shaft driving said loopers, feed rollers disposed at the front and rear of said bed plate, oscillating levers on one of said roller shafts carrying pawls for engaging andi driving a gear wheel on said roller shaft and links connected to said oscillating levers and to a cam actuated oscillatory lever.

7. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side supports connected by a bed plate and a vertical bar, loopers under said bed plate and needles f carried by said bar, a main driving shaft for actuating the needles and operatively connected to a shaft driving said loopers, a feed roller at the front of said bed plate, the operating shaft of which carries oscillatory arms connected by links to a lever adapted to be oscillated by a cam on said main driving shaft, pawls carried by said arms, means for placing one or other of said pawls into engagement with a ratchet wheel on said roller shaft, a pressure roller cooperating with said feed roller, feed and pressure rollers at the rear of the bed plate, said latter feed rollers being operatively connected to the feed rollers at the front of the bed plate, and means for enabling the said pressure rollers to be raised or lowered simultaneously.

S. A multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies comprising two side sup ports connected by a bed plate and a vertical bar, loopers under said bed plate and needles carried by said bar, a main driving shaft for actuating said needles and operatively connected to a shaft driving said loopers, a pressure roller and a feed roller adjacent to each needle, a shaft (JO-extensive with the said bed plate carrying the pressure rollers by means of levers, a similar set of rollers at the rear of said bed plate, mounted on another shaft by means of levers, which levers are connected at each end of the bed plate by springs and are also connected to link mechanism for raising said rollers, feed rollers cooperating with said pressure rollers and means for rotating' said feed rollers in opposite directions.

9. In a multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies, having a main shaft and needles actuated by said shaft, presser feet for holding the wood plies in position, said presser feet being normally maintained by a spring in an inoperative position, and means for positively bringing said presser feet into operative position comprising a longitudinally movable rod carrying cams for engaging the presser feet, a rocker arm connected to said rod, and a disk mounted on said shaft and having a cam projection adapted to engage said rocker arm and thereby produce reciprocation of the rod.

l0. In. a multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies, having a main shaft and needles actuated by said shaft, presser feet for holding the wood plies in position, said presser feet being normally main-l tained by a spring in an inoperative position, and means for positively bringing said presser feet into an operative position comprising a longitudinally movable rod carrying cams for engaging the presser feet, a rocker arm connected to said rod, and a disk mounted on said shaft and having a cam projection adapted to engage said rocker arm once during every revolution of the main shaft, and thereby causingsaid cams to periodically engage said presser feet.

ll. In a multiple needle sewing machine for sewing wood plies, having a main shaft and needles actuated by said shaft, presser feet for holding the wood plies in position during the stitching action of the needles, said presser feet being normally maintained by the spring in an inoperative position, and means for positively bringing said presser feet into an operative position comprising a longitudinally movable rod carrying cams for engaging the presser feet, a rocker arm connected by said rod, and a disk having a cam projection and so mounted on said shaft as to cause said cams to depress the presser feet during each insertion and withdrawal of the needle.

In testimony whereof, aflix my signature.

PERCY MAXVELLNIULLER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,364,571, granted January 4, 1921, upon the application of Percy Maxwell-Muller, of Weybridge, England, for an improvement in Sewing-Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 12-13, for the Words bobbins or spools read Zoopers and shuttles; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofhoe.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of April, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] I M. H. GOULSTON,

Commissioner of Patents. 

